Benefits of Narrative

In my Medicine in Contemporary Society class, or MCS2, we just discussed the benefits of expression as a medical professional. This would include, but is not limited to, increased personal reflection and personal growth, increased empathy toward patients, improvements in verbal communication, and building better communication and dialogue with patients, peers, and co-workers. While I don't know if I'll ever write about my patient encounters or stories (I prefer verbalizing - ie: talking to my mami), we had a few lecturers present some poetry regarding their various medical experiences. One man, Dr. Bronson, has such an eloquent style of poetry, that even the birthing process, described through his poetry, had me gaping in awe and wonder. It also helped that he described his latex glove as the color of a rare Lepidoptera.

The lecturers, but mainly Dr. Bronson, may have re-inspired me to start writing poems. I always loved it, and kept a small series throughout high school, which I ended up using for a poetry unit in senior year of high school. I've always loved self-expression through the arts - dancing, playing music, and drawing, however written narrative was never my favorite. Regardless, here's a small taste of my high school poetry, and maybe I'll use this semi-forsaken blog to express myself through poetry yet once again.

--

Celestial Conflict (working title) - 2004

The beauty of the earth,

The sky, the stars, the sea.

Their o’ so endless wonder,

Ever mystifying shall they be.

Taken for granted,

These aspects are.

Seen day by day,

By near and far.

Ruler of the sky,

Upon his throne, so bright,

Dispersing rays,

Of majesty and might.

Loyal subjects,

Like cotton afloat,

Go passing through,

The kingdom’s moat.

At night the King,

Goes off to rest,

Leaving his domain,

To the Queen, for best?

Changing night,

By night she will,

Her mood quite fickle,

Though grand, she is still.

Her subjects too,

Loyal, sublime,

Ever watchful,

As they shine.

Though seeming calm,

The sky at peace,

The war for control,

Doth never cease.

The war for heaven,

Or so does seem,

Is a longing struggle,

Between King and Queen.

Like animals they fight,

Fires hurling through the air,

Comets clash, meteors fall,

Never ending, what despair.

Battles won,

And some are lost,

Nothing to gain,

Not worth the cost.

Like Paris, relentless,

The King, he acts,

Ruthlessly, against,

The Queen’s attacks.

The land, the sea,

They watch up high,

To see the fighting,

In the sky.

Back and forth,

The war does wage,

Will things ever settle?

Time turns the page.